Princeton denies home‑based bakery proposal, approves zoning text changes and removes R5 mobile‑home park district

At its April 6 meeting Princeton’s board heard three land‑use public hearings and took three decisions affecting zoning and home occupations.

1) Home occupation (case 030926A): The applicant sought a text amendment to allow preparation and sale of baked goods from an accessory structure and limited indoor retail activity. Planning staff and the planning board recommended denial, citing concerns about commercial activity in residential areas and inspection/enforcement challenges. After hearing staff and finding planning board recommendations persuasive, the board voted to deny the request (vote recorded as unanimous).

2) Reconstruction of nonconforming residential structures (case 030926B): The board considered an amendment to allow reconstruction of residences in commercial districts after catastrophic damage (fire, natural disaster or sudden accident). Board members raised concerns about a phrase that would have barred reconstruction for properties that had deteriorated through neglect; the phrase “not from neglect or deterioration” was removed to clarify intent, and the amended language was approved.

3) Removal of R5 mobile home park district (case 030926C): Planning recommended eliminating the town’s R5 zoning district because it allowed mobile home parks without modern review standards. The amendment removes the R5 district; double‑wide or modular manufactured homes may still be allowed on single parcels in R1–R4 zones if setback and lot‑size requirements are met. The amendment was adopted.

Votes and next steps: The board conducted the hearings, accepted planning staff reports, discussed wording changes where appropriate and approved the two zoning text amendments and the denial for the home occupation. Staff will update the town’s zoning ordinance and GIS to reflect the R5 removal and the new reconstruction language.